Grackle Sheets for accessible Google Sheets
Grackle Sheets is a Google extension that scans sheets for common accessibility issues and suggests fixes right in your Google Sheet. Use Grackle to evaluate your sheets and cross-check your accessibility practices.
Similar to other accessibility checkers, Grackle Workspace is an automated tool that will not catch all accessibility barriers and may suggest recommendations that are not applicable. Employ accessibility best practices for Sheets first, and use Grackle as a secondary check.
How do I use Grackle Sheets to improve the accessibility of my Google Sheets?
If you have not done so yet, first install Grackle Sheets.
Launch Grackle Sheets to run an accessibility check
- Open the Google Sheet you wish to check. Ensure you are signed into your PSU Google account.
- Select Extensions (1).
- Select Grackle Sheets (2).
- Select Launch (3).
- This will begin running the automatic accessibility checker on your document.
- Once your document has been checked, the Grackle Sheets sidebar will appear and display Accessibility Check (4) and Table Structure (5) tabs.
- For each category that has failures or warnings, correct each issue within that category.
- Select the Re-Check (6) button at the top of the Grackle panel to confirm that you have fixed the issues.
- Repeat these steps as needed until all checks have passed.
What do Grackle Sheets error marks mean?
Grackle displays accessibility checks across a range of accessibility items organized into a number of categories. Review the checks to determine what issues need to be addressed to increase the accessibility of your file.
- Fail: A red X indicates the check found an accessibility error.
- Pass: A green check means the check found no accessibility issues. You should still toggle the item to review the content for accuracy.
- Warning: A green checkmark with a white exclamation point in a red circle means the check found something that isn’t a definite failure but might still be a problem. This result requires a manual review of the issue.
How do I fix accessibility errors Grackle Sheets flags?
Grackle checks accessibility in several categories of items. Follow the prompts in the Grackle sidebar to review issues and correct errors, taking into consideration the exceptions noted in each section.
The checks in this category relate to the sheets comprising your workbook. Follow the Grackle prompts to correct any errors.
The checks in this category relate to the way tables are set up. Always use tables in Google Sheets for best accessibility. Follow the Grackle prompts to correct any errors.
These sections check that visual content can be used and understood by all, including people using screen readers. Even if you pass the Grackle check on this section, manually review the accuracy of your alternative text and chart descriptions.
- Images should have alternate text
- Charts should have alternate text: If the chart is complex, reference where a user can find the underlying data table the chart is built on.
This section includes checks for several formatting issues. Some items in this section need to be manually reviewed.
- High color contrast is used: Grackle sometimes incorrectly passes colors with insufficient contrast. Manually check any color used to ensure sufficient contrast.
How do I use the Table Structure tab?
The Table Structure tab displays sheets and tables in a tree-like structure for a visual representation of the order of elements.
This article was last updated .
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